Akamai App and API Protector Reviews

Name: Akamai App and API Protector
Brand: Akamai
Rating: 4.2 (28 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

28 reviews
100% willing to recommend

866 followers

What is Akamai App and API Protector?

Akamai App and API Protector provides website security by preventing DDoS attacks, acting as an application firewall, managing content delivery, and monitoring APIs. It adapts to threat profiles and is used for fast media delivery and identifying malicious activities.

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Akamai App and API Protector is the #4 ranked solution in top Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) Protection solutions, #8 ranked solution in top Web Application Firewalls, and #10 ranked solution in best Cloud Security companies. PeerSpot users give Akamai App and API Protector an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Akamai App and API Protector is most commonly compared to Cloudflare: Akamai App and API Protector vs Cloudflare. Akamai App and API Protector is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 71% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 27% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Akamai App and API Protector

November 2024

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Featured reviews

Deepesh Singh

Senior Engineering Manager Cybersecurity at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

As a product, it has good capabilities, including professional support. However, it's risky for us to rely on AI for real-time traffic management. We use in-house analytics but avoid automatic actions due to their high impact. For example, I live in a developing country. Everyone has different types of phones, apps, and everything else. So, if someone is using a legacy phone, that is still a use case here. If AI decides that this is an end-of-life phone or end-of-life Android operating system, it starts blocking that traffic. We may potentially lose millions or probably thousands and hundreds of thousands of hits per second. Everything is all about how well we serve payments because we're into payments. So, AI is used for analytics but not for real-time decisions. We can't afford to block traffic based on AI models due to the variety of devices and operating systems our users have.

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Pranav Vashisht

Dev Ops at a media company with 501-1,000 employees

There are some challenges. I have been interacting with their support about an issue. In terms of precedence of Akamai rules, the last one is implemented. That is the one that is operational. If two rules contradict, the last one is implemented. We had a clash, but it was really tough to find that out. I would like to have a rulebook because, in their architecture documentation, it is not mentioned anywhere that if two rules clash, the last one works, and if it does not work, then what to do. This is something we were debating today with their tech support. With AWS, we get documents for the issues so that they do not occur in the future. Akamai's support and knowledge base needs to be improved.

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Bharat Chandra

Head of DevOpps at Indian express

We did a PoC of Akamai and Cloudflare. One area where Akamai can improve is the captcha part. Cloudflare provides a captcha if there are a certain number of threats. For example, I can assign that if there are 10 requests within a second from a single IP, it should send a captcha to the user. The user should fill in the captcha, and only after that, the user should be able to access our website. This captcha feature should be built into Bot Manager. I love this captcha feature of Cloudflare. Other things are good in Akamai. That is why we are using Akamai. Only the captcha part should be implemented.

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Akamai App and API Protector mindshare

Product category:

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Akamai App and API Protector in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category stands at 4.0%, down from 4.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Oct 14, 2024

Valuable Features

Akamai App and API Protector offers powerful features such as DDoS protection, traffic filtering, and WAF capabilities. Users commend its scalability, helpful dashboards, and excellent technical support. The product facilitates easy scalability outside infrastructure, usage-based charging, and provides custom rules for diverse requirements. Users appreciate its efficient security for APIs, adaptive stream delivery, caching services, IP/Geo blocking, and Bot Manager. Overall, it is regarded for its comprehensive, cost-effective security and ease of use.

"Features like scalability and uptime are most effective."
"Everything will be handled by Akamai's system before it reaches our infrastructure."
"All the solution's features are very good."

Room for Improvement

Akamai App and API Protector needs improvements in security configuration flexibility, user-friendly interface design, rule management, integration capabilities, layer seven protection, analytics, and support response time. Pricing is another area requiring attention. The complexity in managing configurations and monitoring, along with issues in bot handling and dashboard clarity, are challenges users face. Better captcha integration and protection against piracy are also necessary to enhance its effectiveness in the market.

"It could have better analytics and reporting visibility in the OEM console."
"Customer support has room for improvement."
"We are experimenting with EdgeWorkers to write our own code at the Edge level. It could grow to be much better."

ROI

Users experience significant cost savings with Akamai App and API Protector due to its efficient CDN capabilities, which manage widespread traffic without requiring infrastructure expansion. Particularly for e-commerce and media companies, it secures transactions and content delivery, handling millions of hits seamlessly. Despite higher costs, the impact justifies the expense, outperforming alternatives like Amazon WAF and other CDNs in terms of traffic control and capacity.

Pricing

Akamai App and API Protector pricing is generally considered high, especially for small and medium enterprises, though competitive compared to other premium options. Costs are usage-based without licensing fees, offering a comprehensive bundled package. Despite being pricier than competitors like AWS and F5, many find the investment justified due to the all-encompassing services included. Enterprises find value in its structure, though cost negotiation is common, and account managers are helpful with pricing.

"It's more expensive than others, but the ROI is good for large-scale infrastructure."
"One reason not all people use Akamai is that it is a little bit more expensive than some other providers."
"The product is expensive, but it is worth the money."

Popular Use Cases

Akamai App and API Protector is primarily used by organizations for web application and API security, offering protection against DDoS attacks, SQL injections, and other vulnerabilities. Users employ it for content delivery networks, caching, and firewall functionalities. Businesses utilize it to manage and monitor APIs, detect malicious traffic, and protect data. It serves various sectors, from media and e-commerce to government, by enhancing app-based traffic security and supporting advanced custom rules and IP blocking.

Service and Support

Akamai App and API Protector receives mixed feedback regarding customer service and support. Many users find the support excellent, quick, and knowledgeable, with dedicated teams providing valuable assistance. However, some mention inconsistency and response delays. The availability of documentation and flexible, responsive service are appreciated. High ratings reflect satisfaction, though others seek improvements in SLA response times and availability. Users value the ability to prepare for significant events with advance ticket requests.

Deployment

Users have varied experiences with Akamai App and API Protector's setup. For those familiar with load balancers, HTTP, and SSL/TLS, the process is straightforward. Some rely on vendor management or third-party services for a hassle-free setup. Complexity varies, but adequate technical knowledge eases the process. Akamai's support and professional approach are beneficial. Deployment can be smooth and quick, with options like staging environments to test configurations before going live.

Scalability

Akamai App and API Protector demonstrates significant scalability. It effectively manages extensive internet traffic and adapts based on organizational requirements, supporting web application firewalls across diverse environments. Users appreciate its capability to handle numerous domains and seamless scalability during high-traffic events, reporting satisfaction with its performance. The edge network and CDN facilitate workload management, and several entities highlight its ability to serve vast page users without issues, confirming remarkable scalability. Akamai consistently optimizes its scalability features.

Stability

Akamai App and API Protector is highly stable, with numerous users highlighting its reliability and consistent performance. Many have reported no outages, downtime, or errors, praising its effectiveness in handling tasks smoothly. Users appreciate its ability to operate without bugs, glitches, or performance issues. Akamai's traffic analysis and customizable rules further enhance its stability, making it a preferred choice for content-based companies and software-as-a-service solutions. Its stability is frequently rated ten out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Akamai App and API Protector Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

27%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Retailer

Government

Energy/Utilities Company

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

University

Hospitality Company

Educational Organization

Media Company

Construction Company

Transportation Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Marketing Services Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Logistics Company

Outsourcing Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Akamai App and API Protector with alternative products

Learn more about Akamai App and API Protector

Akamai App and API Protector offers strong protection, adaptable security features, and efficient traffic management. Its WAF blocks IP addresses and country-specific threats while preventing SQL injections. Companies utilize it for scalable CDN services and comprehensive traffic analysis. Known for its cost-effectiveness and user-friendly dashboard, this protector stands out for its customizable rules and technical support. Users also highlight the ease of integration and detailed attack insights available through its advanced dashboard.

What are the key features of Akamai App and API Protector?

DDoS Protection: Strong defense against Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
Scalable CDN: Manages content delivery efficiently under high traffic loads.
WAF Capabilities: Blocks specific IPs and countries, prevents SQL injections.
Traffic Filtering: Analyzes and controls incoming requests to maintain security.
Adaptive Stream Delivery: Adjusts content delivery to meet bandwidth needs.

What benefits should users expect?

Cost-Effectiveness: Provides robust security tools at a competitive price.
Enhanced Security: Comprehensive protection against cyber threats.
Scalability: Easily handles increasing traffic and data loads.
Ease of Integration: Simple integration with existing systems.
Insightful Analytics: Offers data-driven insights into traffic and attack patterns.

In media, Akamai App and API Protector ensures smooth streaming by handling high bandwidth demands. E-commerce companies use it to guard against fraud and data breaches. Financial sectors rely on its ability to protect sensitive transactions. Implementations in healthcare focus on safeguarding patient data while maintaining compliance with regulations.

Akamai App and API Protector was previously known as Akamai Web Application Protector, Akamai Kona Site Defender, Akamai Kona DDoS Defender.